How I start my Fanuc OM based CNC Mill. How to get started or use an older Fanuc OM based mill. I purchased a used CNC mill and have been using it successfully for over a year. For DIY type operation, it’s been reliable and capable. Excel VMC mills, in particular, seem to be very reliable, easy to work on and I’ve been able to source parts. I use Fusion 360 along with custom post-processing to my DNC to make parts. The oil absorbers I use are at: https://amzn.to/2CGWHbu

Just a quick shop update and I complete the messy job of firing my coolant back up in the VMC with the warmer weather. Pump used in this video: http://amzn.to/2GB2yQ8

Machining the topside of the PCB enclosure. A tool is dropped by the ATC and the first use of the Fanuc LCD Upgrade for the CNC mill. Tool change fails.

Making a knob for the Kurt DX6 vise. Crashing a facemill.CNC Fail!

I finally made a decision and purchased a Kurt DX6 6" Vise. Here is a review of the unboxing. These vises are top notch and I really wished I had ordered two. Purchase at Amazon via http://amzn.to/2fnzpyn.

Vise Jaws Setup and machining. Part 2 of making some vice jaws.

Machining some test 6061 aluminum with flowing coolant. Everybody is a hero in aluminum. It’s taken about a month or so to go from purchase of the VMC to actually making parts in the home shop using my “spare” time. A bit of loc-line adjustment and the tools to work with loc line. #firstchips #cncmill

The way I setup positive tool offsets using the spindle face as the makeshift gage line. This is on a Fanuc OM based Excel VMC.

After a late night, I resolved the automatic tool changer issue and it’s working as it should now. Back to cutting chips.

Troubleshooting one of he last items on my check sheet before machining. The automatic tool changer.

Moving a VMC Vertical CNC Mill with steel bars. The VMC is a Excel PMC series mill with Fanuc 0M controls. This replaces my old smaller VMC (HAAS Mini Mill) with a new to me larger model. I moved this mill single handed once in the shop. A rollback wrecker did a great job doing the local transport to my shop floor.

Installation of an American Rotary AD-20 Phase Converter for my VMC CNC Mill upgrade.

Horizontal Milling with the Grizzly G3617. Milling plate steel.